Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice

ByJaclyn Shimmel On02/22/202104/15/2024 Updated04/15/2024

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This Instant Pot chicken fried rice recipe is quick and easy to make and packed with great flavor. Skip take-out and give this Panda Express copycat recipe a try tonight!

Panda Express Copycat Fried Rice

In my opinion, Panda Express makes the absolute best fried rice. It is packed with flavor and has eggs and veggies in every bite.

So like Panda Express, I like to make my pressure cooker fried rice with a generous amount of eggs, peas, carrots, and green onions.

I also like to add shredded chicken to our Instant Pot fried rice to make it more of a complete meal, but this is not necessary. If you are looking to make more of an exact copycat Panda Express fried rice you can skip the chicken. (More protein ideas below under recipe variations.)

For more take-out inspired recipes try my Sweet & Spicy Chicken, Ramen Stir Fry, Slow Cooker Orange Chicken, and Sesame Chicken. Both the easy chicken dinners are made in one-pot and can be one the table in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Here is what you will need:

2 cups long-grain white rice
2 ½ cups water
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 (10-ounce) package frozen peas and carrots
4 large eggs, whisked
1 cup cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon ginger paste
¼ cup green onions, chopped
2 Tablespoons sesame seeds, optional

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Chicken broth: Cook your rice in chicken broth for added flavor.

Vegetarian: Leave out the chicken for vegetarian fried rice.

Shrimp, Pork, or Steak: Have leftover meat or shrimp? Feel free to replace the chicken with some cooked steak, pork, or shrimp.

Eggs: If you aren’t as much of an egg-fanatic as we are you can cut down on the number of eggs. 2 or 3 works just fine as well.

Instructions

Start by rinsing your rice in cool water in a colander. This removes starch from the surface of the rice which can cause the cooked rice to become clumpy. Rinsing and draining your rice beforehand will work to give it the best texture in your finished dish.

Step 1: Cook rice – Add the rice and water to your Instant Pot and give it a stir. Put on the lid and set vent to the sealing position. Pressure Cook 3 minutes followed by a 10-minute natural release. Then manually release any remaining pressure. Fluff rice with a fork; transfer to a bowl and set aside. Rinse the pot liner to remove any stuck-on rice.

Step 2: Cook veggies and eggs – Sauté oil and garlic until fragrant (about 1 minute), stirring often. Add frozen vegetables and cook until thawed and warmed (about 1 minute). Push the cooked vegetables to the side and add eggs. Scramble the eggs, stirring constantly. Stir the eggs in with the veggies when they are just about cooked through.

Step 3: Combine everything -Return the rice to the pot and add the chicken, soy sauce, and ginger paste. Stir and cook until everything is heated through (about 1-2 minutes).

Step 4: Garnish and serve -Turn off the Sauté setting. Stir in the green onions. Serve warm with sesame seeds and additional green onions for garnish, if desired.

Storage

Store leftover fried rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Reheating

While reheating fried rice in the microwave can work in a pinch, I have found that it can really dry out the rice. Instead, I would suggest using a frying pan (or your Instant Pot). Heat a bit of oil then reheat the rice for a few minutes while stirring frequently.

If you are really set on microwaving your fried rice, cover it with a damp paper towel to help prevent too much moisture loss.